1. WRITING THE UCAS
PERSONAL STATEMENT

2. What is the UCAS
Personal Statement?
The Personal Statement is a very important part of your
university application, around an A4 side in length,
which
gives you an opportunity :
1) To tell the universities and colleges why they should choose
you
2) To tell universities and colleges about your suitability for the
course(s) that you hope to study.
3) To demonstrate your enthusiasm and commitment, and above
all, ensure that you stand out from the crowd

3. (1) Start planning early
in Year 12
 Develop an awareness early in Year 12 about the
requirements of the UCAS Personal Statement
 Begin to think which activities work experience wider
activities,
experience,
reading you will need to get involved with so that you
can write about them at the beginning of Year 13
 Use the Personal Statement Timeline on the UCAS Apply
website:
http://www.ucas.com/students/applying/howtoapply/per
sonalstatement

4. Activities that demonstrate interest
and commitment

Attend summer schools

Work experience

Public lectures

Voluntary work

Read (serious) newspapers

Read journals (eg scientific)

Read books

Enter academic competitions

6. (2) Look at the advice on the
UCAS APPLY website
 What to include
 Dos and don'ts
don ts
 Size and presentation
 Similarity detection
UCAS 2012 a direct
link from Personal
Statement page on
UCAS form to Personal
Statement advice

8. The Mechanics
 You can enter up to 4,000 characters including spaces or
47 lines of text (including blank lines), whichever comes
first.
first
 When you save text, the system will tell you how many
characters are left or if you have used too many.
p
y
y
 You can preview your statement after you have saved it.
 You cannot use italics, bold or underlining .
 The system
eg â é è
g
will
recognise
European
characters

9.  Prepare your statement offline using a wordprocessing package and copy and paste it into the
Apply system
system.
 When amending a statement that you pasted in, click
'save' regularly because Apply will time-out after 35
minutes of inactivity. The countdown on the screen
displays how much time you have left before it times
out.
 The character and line count in Apply may be different to
a word-processing package, such as Microsoft Word. Use
the size as specified in Apply as the guide.

11. ( )
(3) Writing about the Course: the
g
Advice from UCAS
 At least two thirds of your personal statement
should relate t th course
h ld
l t to the
 The personal statement will be seen by all your choices
and could b used as the b i f
d
ld be
d
h basis for an i
interview, so
i
be prepared to answer questions on it
 Remember, in most cases, this will be the only written
work that the course tutor sees before making a
decision

12. Two of the most important
p
things to include are:
(1) Why you are applying for the course you have
chosen:

Why does the subject interest you?

Include evidence that you understand what's required
to study the course

What got you interested in the subject?

What have your learnt about the subject?
y
j

Any activities that demonstrate your interest in the course(s)

13. (2)
Why you are suitable for the course:

Which skills and experience do you have that will help you
succeed on the course.

What have your done to develop your knowledge of the
subject?

What evidence is there that you have read, studied, gained
experiences outside the confines of your A level courses?

14. Future plans
If you know what you would like to achieve after
completing a university course, explain how you want to
use the knowledge and experience that you gain.
g
p
y
g

15. Applying for multiple
courses

You only write one personal statement to all your choices. Try
not to mention a university by name even if you are applying
name,
to only one university - your personal statement cannot be
changed if you apply to a different place later.

If you're applying for a joint degree you will need to
explain why you are interested in both aspects of this joint
programme.
programme

If you're applying for different subjects or courses, you
need to identify the common themes and skills that are
f
relevant to your choices.

16. Reasons for Unsuccessful
Applications






Your personal statement does not strongly support your desire
to study your chosen degree.
yy
g
Your personal statement did not show sufficient understanding,
relevance or knowledge about the course you are applying for.
You failed to demonstrate sufficient knowledge and interest in
the subject in your personal statement.
There is a lot of competition for places on this course and your
personal statement and experience was not as strong as other
applicants this year.
Application form (including personal statement, reference and
predicted grades) does not evidence accurate understanding of
or motivation for subject.
Not expressed a strong enough interest in the subject .

17. ( )
(4) Some things to think about:
g
Who are you writing for?
 Good writing has a clear sense
of the audience being written for
 Remember that your audience will be a selector, a
university lecturer or professor who has a high level of
achievement in and knowledge of your chosen subject
 S
Someone who wants to read something new, interesting,
h
d
h
original and not obvious

18. What do they aready know?
 All the obvious things to
say about their subject
 That the subject is interesting
 What the subject covers
 All the clichés typical students come up with
in Personal Statements

19. What do they want to know?
 Which parts of the subject interest
you and why
 Things you want to find out more about
in the subject
 Original insights
your A levels
you have gained from reading and
 Things that you have done which show commitment to
the subject eg work experience, things done on your
own initiative, theatre visits, voluntary work especially
if relevant to the chosen course

20. Avoid cliché opening sentences:
UCAS 10 most common in 2010
(1) I am currently studying a BTEC National Diploma in...
(2) From a young age I have always been interested in …
(3) From an early age I have always been interested in …
(4) Nursing is a very challenging and demanding career...
(5)
( ) For as l
long as I can remember I h
b
have b
been f
fascinated
d
with …

21. (6) Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only …
(7) Nursing is a profession I have always looked upon with …
( )
(8) For as long as I can remember I have been interested in..
g
(9) I am an International Academy student and have been
studying since …
(10) Academically, I have always been a very determined …

22. Avoid empty statements
about yourself
 I have been interested in philosophy all my life (all???)
 I feel global warming is a really important issue (which
aspects?)
 I feel that genes are fundamental in shaping human
behaviour (say something original about genetics)
 You need team work and communication skills and I
have got them (where is the evidence?)
 Maths is important for helping us understand all sorts of
things (give examples)

23. Avoid cliché books
 ‘Fermat’s Last Theorem’ for Maths
 ‘A Brief History of Time’ for Physics

Show that you have explored beyond the obvious in
your reading and say something original about the books
you do mention
 Make sure they are books you can talk about if
interviewed
 Anticipate the interview question: ‘What have your read
since you wrote your Personal Statement?’
Statement?

24. Avoid exaggerated language
Maths is………
‘amazing’
incredible
‘incredible’
‘fantastic’
‘unbelievably interesting
unbelievably interesting’
‘captivating’
Say something more thoughtful

25. How should you say it?
 Persuade them that you are like
this don’t just claim it?
 ‘I am like this because……….’
 Use evidence from work experience
 Use evidence from achievements
 U evidence from voluntary activities BUT not, f
Use
id
f
l t
ti iti
t for
example ‘I am a good at team work because I play in a
team’.

26. The EPQ
 Mention it in your Personal Statement
 Show how it has helped you to develop intellectually with
examples
l
 Show how it has helped you learn new study and
research skills
 Show how you think it has helped you prepare for
university

27. (5) Researching subjects and
courses
 Look up y
p your chosen academic subject on Wikipedia:
j
p
history, scope of subject, issues
 Introductions to subject textbooks
j
 University course prospectuses
 Use Entry Profiles on UCAS website especially ‘What
skills, qualities and experience do I need?’

34. Subject guide videos too from Birmingham on YouTube

35. Podcast on Oxford
website

36. Look for PS advice on university
y
subject department websites
An Example: Medicine at Liverpool
‘All medical schools will want t b convinced th t you
di l
h l
ill
t to be
i
d that
have a genuine desire to be a doctor and that you have
made an informed decision. In your personal statement
you must explain your motivation for wanting to study
medicine and the factors which have influenced your
decision. As well as showing an understanding and
g
g
commitment to the course and the career, you should also
show what you have done to find out more about the
profession and to ensure that this is the right career for
you.‘

37. Why study English website

38. For example: check things out
 Does the course meet your needs in terms of the balance
of Literature, Language and Creative Writing?
 I th course what you want i t
Is the
h t
t in terms of coverage –
f
there’s no point saying you’re keen on medieval
literature or film studies if this isn’t on offer
 Check the application deadline – some popular courses
won’t accept applications after the official UCAS midJanuary deadline
 Don’t waste an application by applying to a course where
you don’t have the right subjects or are unlikely to
achieve the required grades
grades. If you have non standard
non-standard
qualifications, it may be advisable to contact the
Admissions Tutor before applying.

39. An example, Geography at Leeds
p ,
g p y
‘It
is essential that
applicants take this
opportunity to demonstrate their enthusiasm
and aptitude for the academic subject. In
particular,
particular the School would like to be told why
the applicant has chosen a particular
programme, what s/he will bring to the
programme and what s/he expects to gain
from it.’

40. ( )
(6) Group together interests and
p g
activities related to the course

Summer schools attended

p
Work experience

Public lectures

Voluntary work

(Serious) newspapers read

Journals (eg scientific) read

Books read

Competitions
C
titi

41. BUT: Don’t just list
 Say what you got from the activity
 Use telling examples
 Be precise about time was spent on the activity
 Show how it helped to develop your thinking
p
py
g
 Emphasise skills and qualities you developed eg team
work, commitment,
work commitment caring
 Mention particular insights gained

42. Skills you may need to write
about








Practical
Problem solving
Caring
g
Enthusiastic
Teamwork
Good communicator
Using own initiative
Work under pressure








Self motivated
Working to deadlines
Organisation
g
Leadership
Self-expression
p
Scientifically literate
Artistic/creative
Individual thoughts
and ideas

43. (7) How to Write about Work Experience
 Include details of jobs, placements, work experience or
voluntary work, particularly if it's relevant to your
it s
chosen course(s). Try to link any experience to skills or
qualities related to the course
 Make it clear how long was spent on each placement
 Thi k about h
Think b t how th
they d
demonstrate your personality,
t t
lit
skills and abilities. Try to link them to the skills and
experience required for your course(s).

44. An Example
NOT
'I spent two weeks working at a department store. I
enjoyed speaking t customers and h l i
j
d
ki
to
t
d helping th
them with
ith
their enquiries'
BUT
'I spent two weeks managing customer enquiries at a
department store. I learnt how to interact with
p
customers and handle complaints. The experience
highlighted the importance of positive communication
between a business and its customers, and taught me
how to manage difficult enquiries effectively. I would like
to develop this skill further by studying a degree in
public relations '
relations.

45. (8) Group together interests and
activities which show your breadth
 Team sports
p
 Clubs and societies
 Interest and hobbies
 Travel
 Reading outside your subject

46. ( )
(9) Writing about y
g
your Hobbies
and Interests

Think about how your hobbies, interests and social activities
demonstrate your skills and abilities. If there's anything that
relates to your course or to the skills needed to complete a
higher education course, include it - the more evidence the
better.

The Assistant Registrar for Undergraduate Admissions from
University of Warwick says that:
'The
' h strongest applicants are those who can l k their extral
h
h
link h
curricular activities to their proposed course of study. Your
statement will be more convincing and personal if you write
about why an experience, activity or i t
b t h
i
ti it
interest makes you a
t
k
good candidate for the course. Include enough additional
information to make it interesting and to demonstrate your
own interest ’
interest.

47. ( )
(10) Do a draft and redraft it
several times
 First start by looking at the Personal Statement MindFirst,
map on the UCAS APPLY website :
http://www.ucas.com/students/applying/howtoapply/per
sonalstatement

Use it to help you construct a mind-map focused on
your personal aims and aspirations

49.  Second, use the excellent four page Personal Statement
worksheet on the UCAS APPLY website to plan your
statement in detail:
http://www.ucas.com/students/applying/howtoapply/per
sonalstatement
 The worksheet gives you very clear indications about
g
y
y
how much to write for each section Remember: at least
two thirds on the course
 Next write out your statement in full and read carefully
what you have written and don’t be satisfied until you
have re worked it several times
re-worked

50. This
Thi
four
f
page
worksheet contains
the most essential
guidance of all and
should be followed
very closely

51. The UCAS Personal Statement
worksheet has paragraphs on:
 Why are you applying for your chosen course(s)?
 Why does this subject interest you? Include evidence
that you understand what's required to study the course
 Why do you think you’re suitable for the course(s)? Do
you have any particular skills and experience that will
help you to succeed on the course(s)?
 Do your current or previous studies relate to the
course(s) that you have chosen, if so how?

52.  Have you taken part in any other activities that
demonstrate your interest in the course(s)?
 Universities like to know the skills you have that will help
y
you on the course, or generally with life at university,
,
g
y
y,
like any accredited or non-accredited achievements.
Write these down here. Examples can be found at:
www.ucas.com/personalstatementskills
www ucas com/personalstatementskills
 Also think about any other achievements you are proud
y
y
p
of, positions of responsibility that you hold or have held
both in and out of school, and attributes that make you
interesting, special or unique.

53. (11) Dos and Don’ts

Do create a list of your ideas before attempting to write.

Do expect to produce several drafts before being totally happy.

Do ask people you trust for their feedback.

Do check university prospectuses, websites and Entry Profiles. They
usually tell you the criteria and qualities that they want their students
to demonstrate.

Do use your best English/Welsh and don't let spelling and
grammatical errors spoil your statement.

Do be enthusiastic - if you show your interest in the course, it may
help you get a place.

54. 
Don't feel that you need to use elaborate language.

Don t
Don't say too much about things that are not relevant - if you think
that you are starting to, take a break.

Don't lie - if you exaggerate y
y
gg
you may g caught out at interview
y get
g
when asked to elaborate on an interesting achievement.

Don't rely on a spellchecker as it will not pick up everything - proof
read as many times as possible.

Don't leave it to the last minute.

Don't expect to be able to write your personal statement whilst
watching TV or surfing the internet

55. How to keep to the word
p
length: University of Leeds
 Remember it is a personal statement, cut out anything
unnecessary!
 D 't repeat yourself
Don't
t
lf
 Cut out the waffle - be concise!
 Get rid of pointless words e.g. the name of the
hospital/doctor you worked with, exact dates (just put X
months), pointless adjectives etc.
 Ask your referee to mention some stuff that you cannot.
o
efe ee
st ff
o
annot
 Get some structure to your statement
 At the end of the day if you can't get it under the
can t
lines/characters you may just have to chop whole
sentences.

56. (12) Above All
Don’t plagiarise!
One year 234 UCAS personal
statements contained the following:
"Ever since I accidentally burnt holes in my pyjamas after
experimenting with a chemistry set on my eighth
birthday, I have always had a passion for science.“

57. UCAS Copycatch plagiarism
software
 Your PS checked against 1,500,000 statements past and
present, those on websites and in books
 30,000 students ‘caught’ in 2010
 10% were identical to other applicants
statements or online examples eg Student Room
personal
 U i
Universities applied t i f
iti
li d to informed so th t th
d
that they can t k
take
appropriate action
 S d
Student told b email with d
ld by
il i h details on T
il
Track
k
 Flagged up on Adviser Track for school staff as well
Plagiarism by University Applicants Soars TES 18.02.11

58. (15) 5 Key Elements of a Good Personal
Statement: A Reminder
 At least two thirds should be about the course(s) you
have chosen and your suitability
for it.
f it
 Make it personal and original
 Do not plagiarise
 Provide evidence and examples to back up claims you
make about yourself
 When you write about things you have done show what
skills you have gained
and what they demonstrate
abou you
about your character and/or personality
a a
a d/o p
o a y

59. The key question to answer
Judge all the content of your Personal
Statement draft by asking the question:
y
g
q
Does it increase my chances of getting
accepted on the course or not?
If the answer is no, miss it out

60. Above All!!
Use the Advice and Resources on the
UCAS website